MAPUSA
Serious questions have been raised over accountability and oversight in the costly renovation of the iconic Kala Academy, with the Task Force Committee stating that critical works remain incomplete and that the building continues to show signs of distress despite an expenditure running into over Rs 50 crore.
The committee disclosed that a team from IIT Madras, which conducted a visual inspection in September, submitted a draft report flagging visible cracks, water leakage and unfinished works, raising concerns over the structural integrity of the recently renovated complex.
Significantly, IIT Madras has recommended infrared and thermal scanning to scientifically assess the building’s structural strength, indicating that the extent of damage and vulnerability cannot be ascertained through visual inspection alone.
Terming the Rs 50 crore renovation and strengthening exercise a “waste of public money,” the task force questioned the quality of execution and the decision-making process that led to the reopening of the building without addressing long-term safety concerns.
“The core issue is not cosmetic repairs but whether the structure has been made safe for the next 50 years, which was the stated objective of the renovation,” a task force member said, adding that public funds appear to have been spent without ensuring durable outcomes.
The committee further pointed out that Rs 10 crore has been kept on hold, pending implementation of the expert recommendations, and questioned who cleared the building for public use despite the red flags raised by technical experts.
Raising concerns over institutional responsibility, the task force asked how the Kala Academy continues to host public events when key safety assessments are yet to be completed.
The committee has decided to conduct another inspection within a month to review compliance with the recommendations and to determine responsibility for lapses in execution and monitoring.
The Kala Academy, a flagship cultural institution, underwent renovation and structural strengthening work from 2021 and was reopened in November 2023.
With the total financial commitment to the project crossing Rs 50 crore, including follow-up repair allocations, the Kala Academy has become one of Goa’s most scrutinised public works projects, with growing calls for clarity on who approved the works, who certified their completion, and who will be held accountable if safety deficiencies persist.
